According to ESPN, Jimmy Butler and Brett Brown had a conversation about the All-Star’s role within the offense.
The Philadelphia 76ers‘ situation just got a lot more dramatic, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Romona Shelburne. Jimmy Butler “aggressively challenged” coach Brett Brown about his role in the offense, showing displeasure with the current system.
While Butler’s combative nature has been well-documented in recent months, this is the first sign of real displeasure with the Sixers organization. The report notes Butler still wants to sign a lucrative extension in the summer, but the dynamic between him and the organization seems less than ideal.
Per Woj and Shelburne, Butler wants to run more traditional pick-and-roll and isolation sets, rather than fitting into to Brown’s free-flowing approach. That’s a valid criticism, and Brown would be wise to feature Butler more prominently within the offense. He should use his superstar like a superstar.
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There are concerns regarding how that would mesh with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, though. Embiid is one of the seven or eight best players on the planet, and Brown is right to run the offense primarily through him. Butler needs more direct touches, sure, but JoJo deserves to maintain alpha status.
It appears as though Butler understands that. He previously called Embiid the team’s best player, so that dynamic seems settled. There was also the previous hoopla about Embiid’s desire to spend less time on the perimeter — something the media pinned on Butler, but it was geared more toward Brett Brown and Ben Simmons.
Butler calling out Brown isn’t positive, but the actual report doesn’t seem quite as dire as the headline. Here’s one key point detailing Brett Brown’s perspective.
"“Brown has told people within the organization that he had no issues with that exchange and considered it within the confines of the relationship that he’s developed with Butler, sources said.”"
There’s a decent chance the exchange was more a product of Butler’s intense personality than any real dysfunction. The tenuous relationship between the team’s young core is cause for concern — and something the Sixers are undoubtedly addressing at every possible turn — but for now, there’s no reason to lose hope with regard to Butler’s long-term status.
On the court, both Butler and Simmons have developed noticeable chemistry. There have also been multiple off-court examples of Butler and Simmons developing what seems to be a close friendship, although there’s minimal inside information or context regarding their relationship.
As Woj and Shelburne note, the Sixers are committed to making the core trio work and keeping Butler beyond this season. It does, however, state that rival teams expect Butler to take meetings with other organizations once July hits.
Finding the right balance between Embiid, Butler and Simmons was always going to be a process. Ben compromises spacing in unique and challenging ways, while Embiid still commands a high usage on offense.
The main takeaway should be simple: Brown needs to incorporate Butler into the offense, rather than letting the offense work it’s way to Butler. Butler needs more possessions (before the fourth quarter) where he’s the focal point.
With that said, his usage rate and shot attempts per game are virtually identical to his numbers in Minnesota. It’s appears to be a concern about the manner in which Brown uses Butler, not how often Butler shoots the ball.
For now, there’s no apparent issue for Brown, who thought the exchange was normal and non-problematic. It also appears as though Butler’s side believes the exchange was normal and non-problematic.
How this story unfolds — and how Brown and Butler address the situation — will be exceedingly interesting. The Sixers are back in action Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks.